“Yes, absolutely,” says Dr. Fumihide Tanaka, a professor at Tsukuba University in Japan, when asked if he thinks telepresence robots need arms…
After observing people interacting with robots for over 10 years, in multiple countries, Tanaka is convinced that robots with functional arms provide a better experience to users. “Arms and hands increase the opportunities for physical participation,” he says.
The Japanese professor has focused on challenging communication situations, such as with young children who are still learning how to navigate the social world, and interactions between individuals of different cultures.
via IEEE Spectrum
